Hilda’s Place Combines Food, Drinks & The Arts in Downtown Pilot Mountain

Hilda Willis is full of ideas. She wants her place — Hilda’s Place — to be part music, part food, part wine, part beer, part performance space, part teaching space and part relaxing space. If you meet Willis, you’ll understand that combining all of those interests into one business called Hilda’s Place makes sense.

Willis took over the Main Street space in downtown Pilot Mountain formerly occupied by The Living Room earlier this spring. She is gradually transforming it and molding it into her own vision.

“I want the community to have ownership of this place,” Willis says. “I want them to feel comfortable here.”

Willis grew up with a father in the restaurant business. Her current menu includes sharing plates, salads and sandwiches. The big hit so far is her homemade chicken salad, which she has started selling by the pound upon request. Hilda’s Place is one of eight stops on the Surry Sonker Trail. Flavors of the cobbler-like dessert rotate seasonally; the summer edition is a strawberry-balsamic sonker with basil, blackberries and whipped cream.

Wine tastings will take place each Friday in July, highlighting the offerings at local wineries throughout the Yadkin Valley. In addition to wine, Hilda’s Place serves craft and domestic beer.

Live music regularly occurs on Saturday evenings, and Willis hopes to schedule Friday nights, as well.

“Sometimes it’s a dance party in the back lounge when certain bands play,” Willis says, laughing.

She plans to draw on her background as an artistic producer and director to host arts education workshops for children and teens.

Whether you’re looking for a draft beer or glass of wine after exploring Pilot Mountain State Park, a date-night spot to take in some music or simply somewhere to gather with friends in the heart of Pilot Mountain, Hilda’s Place has you covered.

Hours for Hilda’s Place are Wednesday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; and Saturday, 1 p.m.-10 p.m. To learn more, click here